The largest White Desert Festival in India - Bharat Taxi

Rann Utsav is a unique desert festival that shows off the country's culture and natural beauty. On the salty white desert land, this festival is a mix of religion, music, dance, art, and being friendly. Tourists stay in small tents in the desert so they can do fun things and take part in other events.

The White Desert Festival is another name for this event. This party has all of the beautiful and entertaining things that are unusual in Gujarat. More than 500,000 people from more than 20 countries come to Gujarat every year for this festival.

History Of Rann Utsav

Even though the cultural elements that the festival is based on are very old, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, started this desert festival in 2006. This festival was held to bring tourists from all over the world to Gujarat and to show off the culture of the area, which is almost extinct. It started out as a three-day party, but because more people wanted to go and more tourists came, it grew into a 100-day party.

When Is Rann Utsav Celebrated

There are many ways to celebrate every day. But the best time to go is on the night of a full moon or the night before or after it. During this time, there are more cultural events like fiestas, parties, performances, and so on. During the festival, there are special times to go to the desert:

Where Is Rann Utsav Celebrated

In the Rann of Kutch desert, the Rann Utsav festival is held. Rann of Kutch is an amazing and unique salt desert in the state of Gujarat. This is the biggest salt desert in the world. It covers more than 3,800 square miles. Rann of Kutch is in the Kutch district. It is just north of the Tropic of Cancer. This is the official border between India and Pakistan, two countries that are close by. When the monsoons come, the desert will flood. So, the best times to visit are in the winter, summer, and spring (October to March).

The tent city is where most of the best things to see and do at the festival happen. This is a temporary city that has been built in the middle of the desert. It has places to stay, markets, shops, and other services.

Top Places to Visit during Rann Utsav Celebration

Kutch is a lot more diverse than just the salt desert. If you are visiting during Rann of Kutch, do not restrict yourself to the desert alone. Visit other sightseeing spots in and around Kutch like

Narayan Sarovar

Kera Shiv Temple

Black Mountain

Mandavi Beach

Kutch Museum

Swaminarayan temple

Vijay Vilas Palace

Kaladungar

Khavda

Bhirandiyra

Bandghi-Nugam

Things To Do During Rann Utsav

Cultural Performance Acts

The first thing that makes this festival interesting is the colourful cultural parts. Dance and music are played at every part of the festival. There are many shows where local dance and music experts show off their skills. A lot of people listen to folk and Sufi music. But there are many different kinds of music and dance shows here. Tippani, Garba, Hallisaka, and other dances are popular in the area.

Cuisine

The food is very different from other places. The British rulers liked the local food because it had delicate flavours and a great taste. The main foods here are black millets, rice, and pulses. During the festival, some of the best things to eat are bajro no rotlo, khichdi, desserts made with camel milk, and more.

Shopping

In the desert area, there are a lot of shops with traditional looks. But there will be a lot more shops selling crafts and souvenirs in the areas around the desert. During the busy tourist season, the price of souvenirs will be low so that a lot of people will buy them. Some of the best things to buy as souvenirs in the tent city, Kutch, and other parts of Gujarat are leather items, silver items, Bandini saris, handicrafts, and other things.

Fun and Romantic Things to Do

From a desert safari to rock climbing, there are a lot of exciting things to do here. To enjoy all the adventure activities in the desert, it is best to buy packages from service providers. The best is the dinner under the moon on a full moon night. Here, you can do exciting things like go on a camel safari, a desert patrol ride, a ride in a hot air balloon, a kids' joy ride, and more. The temporary tent city is where most of the activities happen, or in the area around it.

Stay Tent

Tourists usually stay back in the desert in small tents, build a campfire, and do things like dance, sing, and play music. In the desert, you can also find live concerts and other things to do for fun. Every year, tent cities are set up in the desert for a short time.

Infrastructure

Tents and other temporary buildings will be set up in the desert. Most of the time, pink and green will be used to build structures. In this infrastructure, you can find food stands, markets, and other things to do. There will be a lot of traditional architecture built to show how beautiful the land is.

Sunset

The sunset view from the desert is the best part of the festival. Photographers go to the desert at sunset to see the sun go down behind the salt dunes. The moon will rise after this. During a full moon night, tourists usually set up tents in the desert to watch the moon light up the salt desert. One of the most romantic things to do in Gujarat is to do this. On Valentine's Day, the place will be full of people who live there.

Rann of Kutch Weather

This is the area with the most extreme weather. In the winter, the temperature can drop below freezing. During the summer, it can get up to 50 degrees C. Summer lasts from March to June. The monsoon season begins in July and lasts until September. During the monsoon, it rains a lot there, and sometimes it floods because of all the rain. The desert is not a good place to go right now. Winter is the busiest time for tourists and Rann Utsav. Winter lasts from October to March.

Permits for Visiting Rann Of Kutch

As was already said, this is one of the places where India and Pakistan meet, so it is a very dangerous place to go. On the other hand, it is known as one of the most exotic places to visit because of its rich culture, beautiful nature, and peaceful atmosphere. So, the Indian government has made it hard to get to this desert by requiring a lot of permits and other things. The village of Bhirandiyara, which is on the way to the desert, is where you can get these permits. About 55 kilometres separate this village from Bhuj.

Cost of Permit for an Adult - INR 100

Cost of Permit per Child - INR 50

Cost of permit for a kid below the age of 5 - nil

Children above the age of 12 are considered adults.

Permit Of Motorbike - INR 25

Permit Of Car - INR 50

To get to Rann of Kutch, book a cheap taxi with Bharat Taxi. From Bhuj, you can take a taxi to nearby cities. Dial 9696000999 for a taxi.

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